Hello all. Really need some help. My daughter was born overseas last month and my husband is an Australian citizen while I am a temporary resident.
I want to travel to Australia ASAP to be with my husband. What’s my best option? Applying for citizenship by descent would take too long
if I add my daughter in my application for PR, would that be enough for her to get a visa for now as we’ve gotten a passport made for her from the country she was born in.
We’ll be grateful for any help. Thanks

Hi,
I have applied for Australian citizenship and met all the criteria. However, after applying, I had to move back to the UK for family reasons so no longer have an address in Australia. I received the citizenship test notification just now and will fly back to Australia to sit the test.
My two questions:
1. Does moving back to the UK before the citizenship test effect my application at all?
2. Do I need to update my application to show my UK address?
Thanks in advance!

https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/hindi/en/article/2018/08/10/australian-citizenship-changes-back-agenda
More talk about the potential citizenship changes. We're eligible under the current system in October this year - hoping no change before then

Hi all,
Was wondering if anyone on here could give me some insight into my problem, as i cant seem to find any information on it on the forum.
My problem is that i'm a UK citizen, who has PR here (gained Feb this year), so qualify for citizenship February 2019. Problem is, me and my Mrs were going to move back to the UK as we have been here for a few years now and the parents back home are getting a bit older and such, so we want to go back and spend some time with them. The predicament is that i was going to wait until i got my citizenship before we left for the UK as we don't know how long we intend on staying there, so thought it would be easier if i just had an Aussie passport if we decided to make the move back here. I never realized that the citizenship process lasted so long (14-17 months according to the website!!)
Does anyone know if i can apply for the citizenship in Feb, move back to the UK, then fly back for the ceremony? or do i need to stay in Aus for the entire time that the application is being sorted out?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!

Hi all.
I was granted PR May 2016.
Application for citizenship sent in January 2018.
Overseas travel to UK for 5 weeks coming up September 2018.
Do i need a bridging visa it is my PR status enough?
Thanks in advance.
Having a small freak out as hadn't even thought about a bridging visa, i called the immi hotline to advise the dates i will be overseas.

Hi All,
I'd be grateful is anyone can clarify my entitlement to citizenship. I believe the rules were changed a few years ago, so some expats I talk to offer conflicting advice.
We received our 189 PR visa in March 2014.
We activated the visa by visiting Melbourne in June 2014
We moved to Australia in Dec 2017
When can we start applying for citizenship? After physically being in Australia for 12 months or, after 4 years?
A straightforward, friendly, helpful reply will be most welcome ?
James

I'm a bit confused by the citizenship process, for applying for citizenship from a Permanent Residency visa.
It lists I need to submit document 1195, which requests "Transaction Reference Number (the number that you were given when you lodged your online application)". Confused as I do not yest have a TRN number until I apply, but I need the TRN to apply? Is it the same TRN as I used for my PR visa?

I'm in the process of preparing to apply for my Partner visa for Australia. My wife is Australian and we have two young children who were born in England.
We are looking to apply for Australia citizenship for our two children.
Is there a preferred order for how this should be done - should we apply for their citizenship, get that confirmed and then lodge my partner application or can they be done in parallel?
We need to try and be in Australia by next March as that is when my wife's UK visa is due to expire so keen to ensure we organise ourselves in the best way.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

Hi everyone. Hoping someone can help. I'm going to be eligible to apply for citizenship next month (before the possible July 18 changes, which if implemented, could make it so I'm not eligible for a few years!). With this in mind, I'm keen to get all of my documents in order so I can submit this application as soon as possible. I've tried to begin the application on the Immi site, but it won't let progress too far as it's calculating i'm not yet eligible (which I've seen is the correct behaviour).
Bit about my application details if it makes a difference to the possible replies. Started as a 457 in June 2014. Transitioned to a 186 PR approx May 2017. I'm a UK citizen. Application will be for me and two young kids.
With this in mind, just hoping someone can list which supporting documents (i.e. police certificates, criminal checks, other docos etc...) I'll need to complete the application or point me somewhere I can clearly see this. As I would like to try and get those documents like criminal checks etc.. that take a while requested as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance. Nik.

Hi everyone I urgently need some advice if the members can give it that will be great.
after applying for citizenship there is a wait period of 16 months now. Can I leave australia for a certain amount of time will that affect my citizenship application in any way please advice...

Hi all,
I completed my undergraduate and honours degrees in Australia, and have been accepted for a Masters program, which beings in July this year. As I am currently a permanent resident (and have been since 2011), I do not qualify for any student loans such as HECS or FEE-HELP. This was fine for my commonwealth-supported undergraduate courses, as with the help of my parents I was able to pay upfront each semester. However, my Masters course is not commonwealth-supported, therefore the fees are upwards of $12,000 per semester for 1.5 years, and there is no way I can afford to pay this upfront. I applied for my citizenship in March this year, and was wondering if anyone knows of any way the dept of immigration would consider speeding this process up? I personally know at least 5 people who were in this situation for their undergraduate courses, and all they said they had to do was to ring the dept. of immigration once their application was submitted and that they were able to be fast-tracked. I tried this, and spoke to two people. The first man told me that I would be able to do it and gave me an email address to contact, but also said he would pass me to his colleague who would have more specific information to me, only for the lady I was transferred to, to tell me that they do no fast-track citizenship for anyone, no exceptions. I emailed the address the first man gave me, and they have not replied despite me emailing twice. I then went to my nearest office in Perth, and was told by the lady at reception there that they could not help me as that centre didn't deal with my issue, but as far as she knew the guidelines may have changed on who they allow to be fast-tracked.
Just feeling extremely confused at the moment, as no one has given me any clear answer.

Hi All
We moved to Australia in January 2017 with full PR (189 visa). The new citizenship legislation requires 4 years post PR permanent residency, however it does say you can have a maximum of 1 year outside of Australia.
So, looking for advice as to whether I am able to apply essentially 3 years after landing in Australia, using the time in the UK before we arrived as being one year out of the country. In other words, getting citizenship after 3 years in country....
Any thoughts or advice ??
Thanks
Pommie

Hi,
Can someone please help me to understand the 4 years part of the residence requirement to apply for citizenship.
Is it 4 years concurrently before application, or can it be cumulative ?
I will explain my situation - may make it easier - I first arrived in Oz in October 2009 and stayed on a 457 visa until Jan 2012, then went back to the UK. In Oct 2014 I returned to Oz on another 457 visa, and was granted PR in Sept 2015. So I have been living in Australia for more than 4 years in total but not sure if that qualifies or not.
Can anyone please advise ?

My partner and I, aged 33 and 29, are originally from the UK and Ireland and have been living in Australia for 4 years. We have recently been granted Permanent Residency in July 2017.
We saw this visa as a stepping stone to citizenship, which would then give us the flexibility between UK / Ireland and Australia. The complication for us is the recent change from 2 years to 4 years to apply for citizenship, as we wanted to spend few years back in UK / Ireland to get married and spend time with friends and family.
We currently believe we have two options: 1) leave in the next few months and return within the 5 year return visa 2) stay for the 4 years to get citizenship.
In order to help us make this decision, we are looking advice on our visa, the resident return visa and conditions for citizenship.
Specifically:
Detail on how the resident return visa works within the permanent residency visa? Do we need to be living in Australia to extend PR / return visa beyond the first 5 years? Could we apply for extension from UK and then return after 6 - 8 years?
If we left and didn't return within our visa conditions, is there any other way of returning to Australia later in life? (e.g. company sponsoring to bring me back over when I'm in mid 40's).
Can anyone recommend a good immigration lawyer that won't charge a fortune for a 1hr consultancy?

Hi,
In my last 4 years, I have almost 18 demerit points.
Offenses with Learner License
1) Driving without L plate and without assistance of Full License holder in NSW state.
2) Kids seats were not properly restrained.
Offenses with Full License
3) Over speeding under 10KM
4) Red light Signal brake
5) Red light Signal brake
6) Over speed above 10KM License suspended after 13+ demerit points
7) Few parking offenses during last 4 years
Do I have to declare all above offenses in my Citizenship Application and would that effect my application???
Regards,

Hi,
Excuse me if this has already been asked.
I have only ever held UK citizenship and am now applying for Australian citizenship.
Under "CITIZENSHIP DETAILS" is asks: "Has this applicant ever held citizenship of any country? Include all current and all previous citizenships held." To which I assume I click 'yes' as I currently have UK.
Then it asks me to enter more information like how I got it and when. I choose 'Birth' and then my birthday, but then it has a box asking me for the "Date Ended". Do I just leave this blank?
Cheers.

Hi,
I am eligible to apply for citizenship in 10 days time. My questions are:
* Is it possible to draft application online in advance and submit on the day I arrived in Australia (in 10 days).
* If so, does it matter if Form 1195 is signed by myself and identity declaration with a date before the day I am eligible e.g tomorrows date or does the date have to be in line with when im eligible.
Many thanks

Hi All
Im hoping someone could settle an arguement Im having with my partner re citizenship...she was born in Oz in 1969 and her parents (from overseas) were permanent residents at the time. After 3 months they all moved back overseas and have not returned since. So basically, if I am correct, she is classed as a citizen by birth and she only has to provide her birth certificate to obtain the citizen certificate (she may have this already we are looking for it) and then apply for a passport ? Is this correct ?
My partner thinks that she had to apply for a passport before she reached 16 but I cannot find this written anywhere.
Thanks in advance !

Hello there,
I am in the process of applying for my citizenship but I have come across an error while doing my online application through ImmiAccount. One of the items included in the application is the residence eligibility by way of using the residence calculator. I have been here in Australia since 2013 and while I have been deemed eligible and with the requirements "met" using the calculator, this doesn't seem to get me to go ahead with my application.
Has anyone had the same problem?
First Lawful Entry: 20 June 2013 (Tourist Visa) x 3 months
PR granted: 23 February 2016

HI all
I migrated here on 189 visas and got my PR on 16th Sept 2013
I first entered Australia on 10th April 2014 and stayed for 2 weeks and went back to my home country
Then i moved here permanently on 17th August 2014. i wanted to check if i am eligible for the Australian citizenship but am confused with the fact that which date is my Lawful Resident Date
is it 10th April 2014 or 17th August 2014.
can someone help me pls as if i select 10th April 2014 i can apply for citizenship by 15th May 2018
hope you can advice me

Hello, I have permanent residency in Australia on subclass 100 visa. For family reasons (imminent grandchildren, two at once!) I will have to spend extended periods out of the country for the next few years. I was planning to apply for citizenship from late June this year - I'm going to UK in April then was going to return in June to start the ball rolling. But with processing times currently running at anything up to 14 months, I have to think about reverting to whatever travel arrangements I can make under permanent residency and resident return visas.
But before I finally make up my mind I have one very specific question around citizenship that I can't find an answer to: if I apply in June and the process takes a year, how often and for how long can I leave the country while my application is making its way through the system? Am I still bound by subclass 100 rules, or are there different rules?
Any advice gratefully received!

Hello so I've recently lodged a citizenship application and one of the pages required me to fill out any possible future travel, with exact dates (which I assumed was for emergency/urgent travel that was deemed absolutely necessary). I've heard rumours of how "you're not allowed to leave Australia in the timeframe between your application lodgement and the response date (AKA the date when they organise the test)". I wanted to know if this was true? - The Department of Immigration site isn't too clear and only stipulates that you can't travel before your ceremony, as your PR will be cancelled thus requiring you to return to Aus on a RRV (correct me if I'm wrong). It's been over 4 years since I left England, I'm becoming very homesick and 10-14 months is an awfully long time.